Adelaide extend lead at top

Ladder leaders Adelaide United extended their winning run to four matches with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle in their round 15 A-League clash in Newcastle on Friday evening.

Newcastle opened the scoring through Richard Johnson on the hour-mark but the visitors hit back through Carl Veart and Louis Brain to take all three points to end a seven-match unbeaten streak for the home side.

The match for the most part was played in driving rain and strong winds after a storm hit the ground midway through the first half.

United look set to take the lead late in the first half when they were awarded a penalty for Fernando Rech being taken down by Allan Picken.

But Veart's spot kick had to be retaken after a United player entered the box and his subsequent effort was saved by Jets goalkeeper Liam Reddy.

Newcastle were unlucky not to take the lead when a Ante Milicic half-volley cannoned of the woodwork following a long ball from Nicky Carle.

They eventually managed it however through Johnson, who met a nice cross to open the scoring.

Seven minutes later Newcastle almost doubled their lead but United goalkeeper Robert Bajic saved well from Milicic, and then Adelaide equalised.

A Travis Dodd effort was parried onto the crossbar by Reddy but seconds later Veart finally beat his man, gaining possession of a loose ball and getting in his shot from close range.